Burial-crypt.



C. E. JENKINS. BURIAL CRYPT. APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1915.

' Patented Mar. 7,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET] java/ut er Gar/wil M1 CHARLES E. JENKINS, OF MOBGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA.-

BURIAL-GBYPT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. t, 19116.

Application filed y 10,1915. Serial No. 27,191.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. JENKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Morgantown, in the county of Monongalia and State of West Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Burial- Crypts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to burial crypts and particularly to that class which are erected above the ground surface, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a crypt wherein the several components are primarily prepared and disposed in the location desired over a hygienic foundation embodying the crypt by thoroughly counteracting and eliminating all deleterious gases and odors and consequently obviating the least objection that might otherwise arise to a surface entombment of a corpse.

A further object of the invention is to provide a crypt comprising essentially a base, an integral body and a gable cover or roof so constructed and proportioned that they may be assembled over a foundation without requiring any particular adjustment, measurement or other devisement to enable the components to be accurately and positively associated and also to provide for an expeditious erection of a crypt having.

water and air-tight joints.

A further object ofthe provide a burial crypt having the parts primarily prepared or constructed at some place of manufacture and ca able of'being conveyed and readily assemb ed at a burial location, all of the parts of the crypt being fully cured and presenting hard surfaces and of an ornamental character.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a crypt having aunique form of ventilating means which is so constructed as to permit the air to enter the body thereof but prevent the ingress of insects into the interior of the crypt, and moreover, to provide means in connection-with the base for operating with a primarily prepared foundation to thoroughly drain the interior of the crypt of any moisture that may collect therein.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention consists m .the-

construction and arrangement of the several parts. which will be more fully hereinafter described and claimed.

means for purifylng the interior of invention is to as a consequence any In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a burial crypt embodying the feav 7 Fig. 2 is a transline 2-2, Fig.

tures of the invention. verse vertical section on the 3. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectionon the line 3-3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is ahori;

zontal section taken in the plane of, the line 4-4, Fig. 3, and looking in the direction of the arrow. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of a preferred form of combined.1n-

scription and ventilating plate.

A foundation is first preparedbelow the ground surface and may be of any depth and consists, first, of a layer 5 of stone, and thereover is placed a layer 6 of lime and charcoal or e1ther one of these materials or other disinfecting material, and after this layer6 has been properly placed a tile 7 of suitable dimensions is disposed in upright position on y Figs. 2 and 3, said tile being'long enough to preferably terminate flush with the top surface of the foundation. Over the layer 6 stone or rubble 8 is filled in the excavation around the tile, and on this stone or rubble is disposed a layer 9 of concrete of such thickness as to bring the same flushwith the surface of the ground in which the excavation for the foundation is made. The-upper c the lime and charcoal, as shown 8 5 end of the tile 7 also terminates flush with the upper surface of the concrete 9 and the latter is leveled off to receive thereon a'base 10 of the crypt. From the foregoing itwill be seen that the disinfecting layer .or substance is confined between water-proof layers of other material both at the bottom and at the top of the trench or foundation, and

deposit coming downwardlythrough the tile or pipe 7 from'the crypt will be retained within the founda-' tion and all' gases and liquids will be held against dissemination in the adjacent ground; Moreover, there is no possibility of gases that may be generated and escaping through the pipe or t'le 7 when passing into disinfecting substance engagement with the a chamber or mor layer aggregating in closure from which they might readily leak out and pass through the ground surface and contaminate the atmosphere around and exteriorly of the crypt. This base 10 is reduced at the side and'end edges, as at-11 and 12, see Figs. 2 and 3, so as to provide the base 10 with an elevated or thickened intermediate portion, as at 13, which is located within the crypt. The intermediate or other material. The recess 14 provides for a perfect drainage of the interior of the crypt. The reduced or grooved side and end edge portions of the base 10 form seat means for the lower edge of an integral body 16 which is of substantially rectangular form as shown, but may be varied in contour as desired.- The opposite ends 17 of the body are formed with arcuate gables 18, the up per terminals of the sides 19 of the body presenting horizontally flat edges 20, see Fig.2! The gables v18 intersect at opposite sides with the said top edges 20 of the sides 19 or do not in the least interferewith the full exposure of these upper terminating edges.

The third essential component of the crypt consists of a roof 'or cover 21 which is preferably of arched form and has opposite ends,22 conforming in contour tothe gables 18. The roof or cover 21 'at' opposite sides -is constructed with'straight side members i 24:,thefmembers 23 also, being formed with 23 having depending'or overhanging flanges lower straight edges 25 equal in dimensions to the upper edges 20- of the sides 19 of the body '16. The overhanging flanges 24 de-, pend sufiiciently to I the joints at the opposite sides between the upper edges 20 of the'bodyand the corre- 26 regillarly" forminig sponding straight'edges 25 at the opposite sides of the roof or cover. The ends 22 of the roof or cover are formed with shoulders the contour or curvature of said ends an produced by overhanging portions 27 ,the front-overhanging portion. being thicker than the rear corresponding portion, was shown by 'Fig. 3, and projecting'a greater distance beyond the adjaof the body 16 than does the rear at the front end and also to provide for the application of other devices which will be more fully hereinafter explained.

The distance between the shoulders 26 is just equal to the distance between the outer surfaces of the gables l8, and in applying the roof or cover 21- over the body the said gables 18 fit snugly against the shoulders 26 and also have their upper edges bearing against the inner surface of the roof or cover adjacent to said shoulders. Likewise the sides of the roof or cover overhanging the joints between the side portions of the cover and of the body, and not only is a reliable or positive joint means formed between the body and the roof or cover, but

fully cover and protect reinforcing metal bars 28 are embedded in the body 16 and the base 10 at the time the latter parts are formed, and portions of the bars of the base are projected through the top surface of the latter and formed with the loops 29 which are adapted to be engaged by hooks or other devices for conveniently lifting and moving the said base and placing ib lll position over the foundation. The lowermost bar 28 of the body also has portions thereof inwardly projected in the formof horizontal eyes or loops 30 which are likewise adapted to receive hooks or otherzengaging means to facilitate the movement and placement of the said body. The body 16 is of such proportions relatively to the thickened or raised intermediate portion 13 of the base that it fits loosely therearound for the formation of a cement oint, the cement being filled in the space 31 etween the lower portions of the sides and end walls of the bod and the upstanding side andend edges 0 the said raised intermediateportion of the base, and by this means the joint is concealed. The lower edges of the sides and ends of the body 16 'may' also be wiped with cement or a thin layer of cement may'beintroduced between the same and the reduced portions of the base or bottoms of the grooves 12 directly beneath. a

A ventilatin opening 32 is formed in the front end 17 o the body 16 and thereover is secured a combined inscription and ventilating plate 33 preferably formed of bronze and secured by bolts and nuts 34 engaging openings 35 in-diametrically o posite portions 0 the plate 33 and secure against the inner side of the front end 17 This plate 33 has the inner or rear side formed with a central cavity 36 from which grooves 37 regularly radiate to and through the periphcry of the plate, the cavity being applied over the outer terminal of the opening 32 and the grooves 37 forming means for the ingress of air to the interior of the crypt. The grooves 37 will be of such dimensions as to practically ventilate the cry t, but will prevent the entrance thereinto o insects and thus obviate the building of nests within the crypt. Any suitable inscription that may be desired may be placed on the outer face of the late 33.

e roof, cover or cap 21 in accordance with the construction hereinbefore s ecified provides .a hood inclosure at the si es and ends relatively tothe portion of the body over the opening roof, cover or cap engaged thereby, and the front greater projection of the hood corresponds to the longer recessed projection 12 at the front .end of the base 10, and on this porch extension of the base suitable ornamentations or me porting the cover,,but give the crypt an ornamental appearance at the front end.

hereinbefore described,

The foundation as the base 10 and'the body 16 areassociated and assembled as shown, and the inclosure having the corpse therein is let down through the open top portion of the body and the bottom of said inclosure bears upon the intermediate raised portion 13 of the base 10 15 andthe recess 14. The

having been first laid on the edges and the edges of the gables 18, and by'this means the roof or cover issecured in place and is held against shifting movement by the gables as hereinbefore specified. The columns 40 are then applied, as shown by Fig. 1, it being understood hat the capitals and bases of these columns will have cement applied thereto so as to secure them in fixed position.

Owing to the fact that the surface of the entire crypt and especially the roof or cover 21 is-hard, it may be suitably carved or rovidedwith emblems as may be desire or other ornamentations. V

As hereinbefore explained, the interior of the crypt will be disinfected and allgases or odors eliminated and absorbed by the disinfecting material exposed from the foundation through the tile and, furthermore, all moisture collecting within the crypt will flow down the sides onto the base and into the recess 14 and thence through the tile 7 to the layer of lime and charcoal or other material.

After the parts of the crypt have been sealed as hereinbefore described, a tight structure will be provided, and one of the main advantages is the formation of the base 10, the body 16 and the roof, cover or cap 21 as integral components and whereby the said three essential components may be readily placed in position for use.

' It will be understood also that changes in the proportions, dimensions and minor deroved crypt may be varied without departing from the spirit of the invention.

crypt having a ha a proof and preventing 21 ,is then applied, cement- What is claimed is: i 1. In a device of class specified, a foundation belowground surface and comprising layers of various materials, one of the layers having disinfectant characteristics and disposed between other liquid and gas-proof layers, a tubular device i'nserteddownwardly through a portion of the. layers and having its lower end'open to the disinfectant layer and its upper end also open and located at the'upper portion of the foundation, .and a 'se applied on the upper surface of the foundation and formed with an opening communicating with the upper open end of the tubular device.

2.. In a device of' the class specified, a foundation below ground surface and comprisinglayers of various materials embody- .ing disinfectant means held between portions of the layers, the latter being liquidescape of gases to the exterior 'of the device, a communicating means being provided between the disinfecting means and the ground surface and normally open at said surface, and a crypt having an inclosing body and a base applied on the upper surface of the foundation, the base being provided with anupper recess inclining in all directions and increasing in depth toward an intermediate opening contiguous to said communicating means of the foundation.

3. A crypt ing a base having a recess in its upper side, said recess inclining and increasing in depth equally from the opposite sides and ends mounted over the upper portion of the body,

and a closed foundation having a central open means co unicating with the drain opening in the base, the foundation means preventing the escape of liquids and gases therefrom.

4. A crypt of the class specified comprising a one-piece base, a one-piece body supported on and secured to the base having end portions extending above the horizontal planes of the top side'edges thereof, a cover having an overhanging hood at the ends and sides to fit over the upper side edges and the extending end portions of the body, the upper terminals of said extending end portions fitting snugly against the inner sides of the end portions of the hood of the cover and all of the joints between the cover and body concealed by the said hood, the cover having one end materially projected beyond the adjacent end of the body and the base projecting outwardly from the same end of the body a distance equal to that of the of the class specified compriscover, and means between the projecting portions of the base and cover to serve as a support for the latter.

5. A crypt of thelclass specified comprising a base with a recess along the sides and ends, a body having its lower edges engaging the side and end recesses of the base and provided with" upper horizontal straight side edges and arcuate end gables projecting above said side edges, the base being longer than the body and continuing integrally beyond one extremity of said body,

and an arched cover having a depending hood at the sides and ends thereof to snugly fit over and conceal the side edges and upper edges of the gables the hood at one end of the cover being longer an projecting out- Wardly from the adjacent end of the body a greater distance than the hood at the op-- posite end of the cover,'the portion of the hood having the greater projection at one amass? end of the cover being equal in extent to the portion of the base continuing beyond the same extremity of the body and'the opposite lower side portions of the extended portion ofthe hood'having recesses formed therein, the upper'edge portions of the body sides and of the-gables bearingagainst the corresponding inner portions of the hood,

and supporting means between the continu STANLEY E. Cox, LA S'rmo. 

